Vegetable producers in Europe are already far into their preparations for the next season. Large parts of the planning cannot be done personally due to Corona, but people are attempting to aid their customers as well as possible nevertheless, explains Bejo's Pieter Gabriëls: "We are all strained and uncertain about what next year will bring."
The biggest question for vegetable growers is probably how next year will develop: "As in every year, it is now time to think about acreages and varieties. At this point in time, we have a good overview of how the 2020 vegetable season is going and we can use this data to estimate next year's demand."
Holger Pohl and Pieter Gabriëls at the Bejo stand, expoSE 2019
The year 2020 went relatively well for Bejo, despite all that is happening. "Our tests with new varieties of our main crops have been positive and we are pleased to be able to offer new possibilities to the growers. One example is our Redlander F1 red onion with mildew resistance. This variety has good yields, is highly mildew resistant and accordingly had very little mildew. The onions store well. This makes it a very interesting alternative for organic growers, among others."
Redlander F1
Onions were one of the products that stayed well in the trade even after the hoarding, earlier this year. In general, he sees growth in vegetables: "I think that sales and market share of vegetables - regardless of which variety - can still be increased. The mood towards vegetables is good and consumers attach great importance to healthy eating. The food retailer is pulling in the same direction and is not slowing down growth in domestic production."
If the appetite for vegetables continues to grow, this necessitate a significant expansion of the area under cultivation: "For next year we are planning healthy growth in the area under cultivation, which will go hand in hand with the increase in consumption. This applies to basic products such as carrots or onions, but also to specialties such as asparagus. If the coming holidays should fail us due to Corona, people at home might treat themselves to more expensive products, like asparagus."
Tricolore Asparagus
Convenience goods is another trend that influences the producers' choice of varieties. Gabriëls explains the importance of this using the example of radicchio: "Small, firm heads of lettuce are more suitable for the retail trade. However, if the radicchio is processed for fresh-cut or convenience products, the head should be larger and looser."
The proportion of organic products is also continuing to grow rapidly in Germany: "Accordingly, as a seed supplier we are also putting more energy into these programs. The best varieties in the organic sector are not always the best conventional varieties. The requirements for organic cultivation are even higher than in conventional cultivation, for example in terms of resistance. Accordingly, we are working on this with intensive resistance research and optimized seed propagation. In this way we can continue to support both markets in the future."
Within all these trends there is one clear common factor: "The Coronavirus is a catalyst for the development of these trends. Neither healthy nutrition, nor convenience, nor organic are new, but each of these segments is gaining a completely new urgency as a result of the pandemic."
A possible vaccine, next spring, will no longer be able to stop this development, he believes: "Many things will remain with us once the pandemic is contained. And not just the smaller aspects of everyday life: working from home and closing down the catering trade are major movements in society that have a significant influence on consumption and (eating) habits. This influence is not only good, but, in my opinion, long-term and far-reaching."
For more information:
Pieter Gabriëls
Bejo Samen GmbH
Danziger Straße 29
47665 Sonsbeck